I would think so, and I bet Sylvain could put in a good word for us at the stables he helps out at. [ In other words, he's just going to volunteer Sylvain. Same difference, right? ] The trees in your domain are probably a better bet, if only because it doesn't require traveling to almost-Solvunn to see them. Also because Brigid's rather nice.
Things have been...
[ If it's possible for mind writing to trail off, it will here for a second with the distinct impression Claude's formulating an answer. ]
Interesting's a good word for it. Bit of a detour on the way there thanks to the road collapsing into a ravine, then there was a monster in said ravine. The usual for a mission, right?
[ It seems he has (again) been far too cavalier with tossing out vague explanations like any of this is normal. He should, maybe, work on that. ]
Fortunately the ground was already collapsed when we got there. I don't know if you remember anything about Zanado or ever went there, but - [ wait, no, that'll make this seem worse - ] okay, it wasn't that intense, but it reminded me of a smaller versiom So maybe not completely in the realm of usual.
As for the creature, well. I would've been happier if we'd met a demonic beast instead since this one was... immense. We ended up leaving where it was since it didn't seem worth risking the caravan.
Trust me, we'd know if it was following. It's absolutely hunting something if that ravine was supposed to be a trap, but nothing that size could be subtle enough to track us with no one noticing.
We're all in one piece. I should probably find some way to thank Teach for making sure we learned healing spells since it's come in handy here and there.
[ Surely a joke will make this better and also definitely come across over mind text. ]
It is true, large beasts are often lacking in subtlety... they are having troubles being sneaky, but this world is not like our own. We never know when something might be surprising us.
The Professor did want to make sure we were being prepared for any situation. Does that mean someone was injured enough to be needing healing?
To be perfectly fair to the beast, it was pretty good at being stealthy. It wasn't until we looked into the ravine that we knew something was there.
[ Even if Petra can't see his responses, Claude does wince for multiple reasons: in that he realizes how that sounds after it's too late to take back, and because he perhaps told on himself with that joke about Teach. ]
Hey now, maybe I just wanted to brainstorm some gratitude for someone we all know! But no, no injuries worse than what we would've dealt with in the academy days.
[ This is perhaps a redirection every bit as much as he's curious where the mention of the professor in question will go, but - ]
Manuela would've been proud of the foresight we had in packing some potions and salves along to go with the healing magic side of things. Speaking of that, if you haven't already been by there then remind me to take you to Nadine's clinic here so you can stock up as well.
Hmm. I suppose that is being good enough. As long as you are fine now, I will be trying not to worry. I do not have much to spare; things in Libertas are still being very dangerous. The relief effort will be taking us quite some time.
It is good that you have extra supplies, she would be very proud! When you are back, I would be glad to be visiting the clinic with you. My own healing is being very limited, I will be needing curatives while out monster hunting, just in case. Of course, I am having no intention of letting the desert creatures get the drop on me.
[ Well - file worry under things he should've expected - from the message, the trip, the state of everything. Joking probably really wasn't the right approach. ]
Sorry, Petra. I promise we actually all are fine. Don't worry too much, alright? And be careful while you're in Libertas, too.
[ File that one under things he should said before now - but her next statement brings a genuine smile to his face. ]
Nadine's a great healer so she'll have anything you need. And I don't doubt you could take on most anything that's out in the desert and then some, but save some for the rest of us, will you?
I am always being careful, and I am less worried about myself than I am the people here. Their suffering is great. Anything we can be doing to offer relief is worth the risk.
[Admittedly, she has more experience with the more aggressive parts of war— but here, Libertas feels like the right place for her to be at the moment.]
I promise, I will be leaving plenty for you to hunt when you get back. Maybe we can be having another contest when you do— see who can bring back the greatest bounty!
Agreed with you on both the suffering and for helping out wherever we can. There's a lot to be done and they'll need as much assistance as we can provide.
[ Granted, he has some thoughts on attaching other goals to said offering of assistance, but - the meaning to offer it at all and do whatever they can is still entirely genuine. That counts, right?
Better to not dwell on that too long, because what she says next makes him genuinely laugh. ]
Are you sure you really wanna offer me a challenge like that? I have to warn you, I haven't become less competitive over the years. Don't get me wrong - I'm still absolutely going to take you up on it, so get ready for some trips out into the desert. We've gotta make up for not getting any hunting time in at Nocwich.
Good, I am being glad to hear it. I would be disappointed if you were less competitive than I remember. It's not as much fun if winning is being too easy!
I will be holding you to that, then, once you return from your trip. Something for us both to be looking forward to, yes?
[They definitely do have to make up for not getting to hunt together in Nocwich! They were too busy competing at bullying their way through that feast table...]
[ Well - that's two for two in unexpected smiles today. ]
Careful, those sure sound like fighting words when it comes to setting up a competition. I'm going to come back to you having scouted every place, aren't I? But you're right, it is something to look forward to.
I know I certainly will be. Even if you're gonna get a head start on me.
Hmm, I don't know about taking the fun out of it. What if it means you get to scope out something even better for us to see?
But - I'm not opposed to it being fairly square, either. [ He's absolutely going to run with that. ] And on that note, what do you say we make it more interesting? Loser buys dinner somewhere of the winner's choice.
Why, Petra. You're not saying you're planning on emptying my pockets of coins, are you? I'm wounded.
[ Unsurprisingly, he's no such thing in reality when it's more fun to play that up to tease. It's not even a very good act what with trying a little too hard to sound offended in order to cover up amusement, but that's besides the point in Claude's mind. ]
Luckily for you, I'm willing to pull out all the stops. And not just because if you're choosing somewhere that expensive it means we both get to benefit from an excellent meal or what's hopefully one, but that also helps.
When you think of it that way, we are both being winners no matter what, yes?
[The best kind of competition! Everyone comes out of it with something.]
I knew you would be willing to be showing any dinner guest an excellent time. I will be remembering you said that you were willing to... pull out all the stops?
Winning in terms of you claiming all of my coins, or because of the dinner? Just curious since they both fall under that.
[ Not really, and he knows what she means. To likely no one's surprise, that won't stop him from being a little difficult all because he can. ]
I might like to host [ "host" ] dinners for friends, it's true, but stops or not I plan on giving it my all now as I know you will, too. I'm looking forward to it.
[ Hilda has obviously been keeping her distance from Petra in a not so obvious (obvious) way, but that doesn't mean that she cares about her friend any less. And what better way to show that she still cares than a small, handmade gift?
The morning of Valentine's Day, Hilda will be noticeably absent as she has been most nights since their return from Luna. But when Petra returns to their shared room at any point through the day, she'll find a gift box perched on her pillow alongside a handwritten note tucked into an envelope. The note itself is written on what looks like handmade paper with flowers embedded into it and written in Hilda's calligraphy. ]
[ The gift box is definitely much larger than the present it holds inside, but when Petra opens it, she'll find nestled in swathes of light pink tissue paper a golden locket. The outside features some dried flowers encased in resin made by a certain pink-haired flower and the inside of the locket has space for a photo of whatever or whoever Petra holds dear. ]
Edited (I found a typo IM SORRY ) 2023-02-15 03:28 (UTC)
somewhere in the middle of the week of 2/20, post disappearance
[ The message sent is strange, cryptic, and with the words oddly spaced like the sender is really focused on thinking them to make sure they get to their destination. It's a decisive change from the normally steady way his handwriting appears when he sends something, just everything about it now wrong, and what's said that comes through as an urgent warning is likely only amplified by how harried it reads. ]
Pẻ̵̻ẗ̴̖ra, d̷͚̮̯̼̜̻̅̍on't g̵̬̍̓̀̋ȍ̴̩̖̒̍ ̵̫̩̈̊̄́ó̴̙̲ut into̵͖̟̭͋̆͂́ the d̶̼̠͍̺̩̏̌̈̈̃e̶͓͍̊͋̉͝͠s̸̳̓̂̔ert. Th̵̺͂ere'̸̜̾s̸̗̿-̸̤̔-̷̤̎
[ But whatever Claude was going to tell her goes unfinished; there's nothing but 'silence' following, and nothing further follows. ]
[It's been long enough since she's heard from him that hearing anything at all is an immediate relief— though of course, that only lasts a moment. There's no denying who the message is from, but everything about it is unusual, from the erratic slant of his words to the way it cuts off at the end, and she feels her breath catch in her throat.
She and Hilda had been right to be worried.]
Claude?! Claude! Where are you? What has happened in the desert?!
[Whether or not she gets an answer, the fact that he'd warned her not to go there means that she would do well to start there if she wants to find him. Time to start collecting her things.]
Are ý̴͙̠̓ō̸̰̏ú̵̠̺ ̴̡͓͛̓a̵̢̧̎n̷̝̪̊͗d̵̦͈͋̋ ̷̟̩̍̍H̵̼̐̇ͅi̸̹͘l̵̯̆̃ḍ̴̈̓a̸̖͗̈ okay? Something happened when Claude á̵̲̏n̶̥̓̏d̷̢̥̊͌ ̵̛͒ͅÎ̵̳ ̵̦̆w̸̞̖͂͂e̵̮̿r̴̟͛͑ê̷͖ ̷̟̂i̶̯̐n̴̰̬̓ ̶̩͖̕t̶͈̾ḧ̷̲̦́e̴̲͋̆ ̵̳̈̒d̶̰̟̋̈ě̷͎ͅs̶̰̑̓ë̵̗̽r̸̉͠ͅț̷͝ͅ.̶̨̳́͝ ̷̥̒͝Ḭ̸̍ ̶͍̆͝ḋ̴̲͚o̸̝̍̚n̸̨̙̉'̵͕͖͑́t̴̫̂ ̸͈͛̔k̴̢̛͆ṋ̵̀o̷̕͜ŵ̸̜ where we are now but
[ Unbeknownst to Claude, it turns out he and Petra both have the very same idea concerning this day.
There's been many holidays he's learned about since arriving, what with there being so many people from so many different worlds, and at first he'd scoffed a little at this particular one. A knee jerk cynical reaction; what made one day more important than others when it comes to giving gifts? There's the fruit he's been leaving Petra here and there since their meeting in the Horizon where they'd exchanged different ones from places they call (or called, in his case) home. Surely that tallies up to be something greater when they're added together rather than being thought of as anything else.
But. Even Claude knows this is a flimsy excuse, really. So his searches in the markets grow to include more than just fruit alone as the date draws ever closer with the belief that he'll know what to purchase when he sees it, patient as ever to solve a puzzle entirely of his own creation. In the end, he's not wrong. There's a stall dedicated to weapons he likes to browse, having picked up his initial dagger not long after arriving in Cadens there, and the owner likes to set aside things she thinks Claude might appreciate. On the day that his gaze falls upon a dagger with a handle of carved green stone that has just the right heft when he picks it up, it leaves the market with him tucked away in his satchel.
On the day of, it's arranged in a paintedwooden box along with its engraved leather sheath, a vial of weapon oil, and a whetstone to keep it sharpened and so its new owner won't have to sacrifice any of her own supplies for this gift. On top of it and what's first visible when the box is opened is a letter written in neat script:
Petra—
I have to admit, the idea of there being one specific day that's not a birthday or other celebration where gifts are prized above all others seems a bit silly to me. What are gifts for if they're not meant to be enjoyed on all days or as a surprise for any reason the giver decides? Bear with me for a moment as I promise this has a point.
The more I thought about it, the more it began to make sense to me. There are plenty of gifts to be given whenever, it's true, but perhaps the danger of doing so is that they all start to blend together and to seem more like an obligation than something freely given. Obligation might be overstating it, but I think it fits the downsides of such a thing all the same where there might be a point unmade and left for misinterpretation.
And the point of this one, of course, is that looking at this reminded me of you. That for no matter what happens, with this in hand you might always remember I'll be there for you even if I'm not at your side right then. Perhaps this will do until I can be.
—Claude.
The box will be left on her bed when he stops by their apartment to retrieve a ledger he left behind from bringing home to balance it before leaving for his afternoon work before leaving again. Only the gift will be waiting for Petra to discover it. Much as he enjoys waiting to see someone's reaction to his plans, waiting on this particular one feels a bit too much for him.
Of course, when he returns home for the night later and finds a gift matching what he'd given in more ways than one, a confirmation there was nothing to worry about after all - he'll be nothing short of thrilled. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
check in during the supply run
Bad news: they're a lot closer to Solvunn than Cadens.
Or so I'm guessing on where the portal put us on the way there, but. At least a couple of them looked like the same ones around the monastery.
What a good :>
[Worth the trip for a good tree climb!]
I should like to be seeing them when the timing is being better. Of course, there is no shortage of trees in my domain, either.
How is the supply run? Is everything being smooth?
he tries!! (mostly)
Things have been...
[ If it's possible for mind writing to trail off, it will here for a second with the distinct impression Claude's formulating an answer. ]
Interesting's a good word for it. Bit of a detour on the way there thanks to the road collapsing into a ravine, then there was a monster in said ravine. The usual for a mission, right?
no subject
[They can BOTH volunteer Sylvain— but there sure is a lot to unpack here, isn't there.]
I do not know if I would be saying usual! What happened with the creature in the ravine? Were you being hurt during the collapse?
no subject
Fortunately the ground was already collapsed when we got there. I don't know if you remember anything about Zanado or ever went there, but - [ wait, no, that'll make this seem worse - ] okay, it wasn't that intense, but it reminded me of a smaller versiom So maybe not completely in the realm of usual.
As for the creature, well. I would've been happier if we'd met a demonic beast instead since this one was... immense. We ended up leaving where it was since it didn't seem worth risking the caravan.
no subject
Were there any injuries, or did you all escape without harm? Something that size is likely to be a mighty hunter. Are you certain it is not following?
no subject
Trust me, we'd know if it was following. It's absolutely hunting something if that ravine was supposed to be a trap, but nothing that size could be subtle enough to track us with no one noticing.
We're all in one piece. I should probably find some way to thank Teach for making sure we learned healing spells since it's come in handy here and there.
[ Surely a joke will make this better and also definitely come across over mind text. ]
no subject
It is true, large beasts are often lacking in subtlety... they are having troubles being sneaky, but this world is not like our own. We never know when something might be surprising us.
The Professor did want to make sure we were being prepared for any situation. Does that mean someone was injured enough to be needing healing?
[You're not getting off that easily!]
no subject
[ Even if Petra can't see his responses, Claude does wince for multiple reasons: in that he realizes how that sounds after it's too late to take back, and because he perhaps told on himself with that joke about Teach. ]
Hey now, maybe I just wanted to brainstorm some gratitude for someone we all know! But no, no injuries worse than what we would've dealt with in the academy days.
[ This is perhaps a redirection every bit as much as he's curious where the mention of the professor in question will go, but - ]
Manuela would've been proud of the foresight we had in packing some potions and salves along to go with the healing magic side of things. Speaking of that, if you haven't already been by there then remind me to take you to Nadine's clinic here so you can stock up as well.
no subject
Hmm. I suppose that is being good enough. As long as you are fine now, I will be trying not to worry. I do not have much to spare; things in Libertas are still being very dangerous. The relief effort will be taking us quite some time.
It is good that you have extra supplies, she would be very proud! When you are back, I would be glad to be visiting the clinic with you. My own healing is being very limited, I will be needing curatives while out monster hunting, just in case. Of course, I am having no intention of letting the desert creatures get the drop on me.
no subject
Sorry, Petra. I promise we actually all are fine. Don't worry too much, alright? And be careful while you're in Libertas, too.
[ File that one under things he should said before now - but her next statement brings a genuine smile to his face. ]
Nadine's a great healer so she'll have anything you need. And I don't doubt you could take on most anything that's out in the desert and then some, but save some for the rest of us, will you?
no subject
I am always being careful, and I am less worried about myself than I am the people here. Their suffering is great. Anything we can be doing to offer relief is worth the risk.
[Admittedly, she has more experience with the more aggressive parts of war— but here, Libertas feels like the right place for her to be at the moment.]
I promise, I will be leaving plenty for you to hunt when you get back. Maybe we can be having another contest when you do— see who can bring back the greatest bounty!
no subject
[ Granted, he has some thoughts on attaching other goals to said offering of assistance, but - the meaning to offer it at all and do whatever they can is still entirely genuine. That counts, right?
Better to not dwell on that too long, because what she says next makes him genuinely laugh. ]
Are you sure you really wanna offer me a challenge like that? I have to warn you, I haven't become less competitive over the years. Don't get me wrong - I'm still absolutely going to take you up on it, so get ready for some trips out into the desert. We've gotta make up for not getting any hunting time in at Nocwich.
no subject
I will be holding you to that, then, once you return from your trip. Something for us both to be looking forward to, yes?
[They definitely do have to make up for not getting to hunt together in Nocwich! They were too busy competing at bullying their way through that feast table...]
no subject
Careful, those sure sound like fighting words when it comes to setting up a competition. I'm going to come back to you having scouted every place, aren't I? But you're right, it is something to look forward to.
I know I certainly will be. Even if you're gonna get a head start on me.
no subject
[Though maybe Claude might enjoy that, if it meant getting the upper hand on the right person.]
When I beat you, it will be fairly square!
[She thinks that's the saying...?]
no subject
But - I'm not opposed to it being fairly square, either. [ He's absolutely going to run with that. ] And on that note, what do you say we make it more interesting? Loser buys dinner somewhere of the winner's choice.
no subject
[This surely won't be the last competition of this sort they have, after all, but instead, the first of many.]
Loser buys dinner? That is perfect! I am accepting your terms!
I hope you are having plenty of money tucked away.
no subject
[ Unsurprisingly, he's no such thing in reality when it's more fun to play that up to tease. It's not even a very good act what with trying a little too hard to sound offended in order to cover up amusement, but that's besides the point in Claude's mind. ]
Luckily for you, I'm willing to pull out all the stops. And not just because if you're choosing somewhere that expensive it means we both get to benefit from an excellent meal or what's hopefully one, but that also helps.
no subject
[The best kind of competition! Everyone comes out of it with something.]
I knew you would be willing to be showing any dinner guest an excellent time. I will be remembering you said that you were willing to... pull out all the stops?
[Is that right??]
no subject
[ Not really, and he knows what she means. To likely no one's surprise, that won't stop him from being a little difficult all because he can. ]
I might like to host [ "host" ] dinners for friends, it's true, but stops or not I plan on giving it my all now as I know you will, too. I'm looking forward to it.
no subject
[Good food and good company, what's not to like? However, he wouldn't be Claude if he didn't prod at her, would he.]
I am glad to hear it. I would be able to tell if you were not, and it would be disappointing if you were holding back!
Stay safe, and we will be putting our skills to the test when you return.
— february 14 | a little valentine's day gift
The morning of Valentine's Day, Hilda will be noticeably absent as she has been most nights since their return from Luna. But when Petra returns to their shared room at any point through the day, she'll find a gift box perched on her pillow alongside a handwritten note tucked into an envelope. The note itself is written on what looks like handmade paper with flowers embedded into it and written in Hilda's calligraphy. ]
[ The gift box is definitely much larger than the present it holds inside, but when Petra opens it, she'll find nestled in swathes of light pink tissue paper a golden locket. The outside features some dried flowers encased in resin made by a certain pink-haired flower and the inside of the locket has space for a photo of whatever or whoever Petra holds dear. ]
somewhere in the middle of the week of 2/20, post disappearance
Pẻ̵̻ẗ̴̖ra, d̷͚̮̯̼̜̻̅̍on't g̵̬̍̓̀̋ȍ̴̩̖̒̍ ̵̫̩̈̊̄́ó̴̙̲ut into̵͖̟̭͋̆͂́ the d̶̼̠͍̺̩̏̌̈̈̃e̶͓͍̊͋̉͝͠s̸̳̓̂̔ert. Th̵̺͂ere'̸̜̾s̸̗̿-̸̤̔-̷̤̎
[ But whatever Claude was going to tell her goes unfinished; there's nothing but 'silence' following, and nothing further follows. ]
no subject
She and Hilda had been right to be worried.]
Claude?! Claude! Where are you? What has happened in the desert?!
[Whether or not she gets an answer, the fact that he'd warned her not to go there means that she would do well to start there if she wants to find him. Time to start collecting her things.]
A day or so after going missing...
Are ý̴͙̠̓ō̸̰̏ú̵̠̺ ̴̡͓͛̓a̵̢̧̎n̷̝̪̊͗d̵̦͈͋̋ ̷̟̩̍̍H̵̼̐̇ͅi̸̹͘l̵̯̆̃ḍ̴̈̓a̸̖͗̈ okay? Something happened when Claude á̵̲̏n̶̥̓̏d̷̢̥̊͌ ̵̛͒ͅÎ̵̳ ̵̦̆w̸̞̖͂͂e̵̮̿r̴̟͛͑ê̷͖ ̷̟̂i̶̯̐n̴̰̬̓ ̶̩͖̕t̶͈̾ḧ̷̲̦́e̴̲͋̆ ̵̳̈̒d̶̰̟̋̈ě̷͎ͅs̶̰̑̓ë̵̗̽r̸̉͠ͅț̷͝ͅ.̶̨̳́͝ ̷̥̒͝Ḭ̸̍ ̶͍̆͝ḋ̴̲͚o̸̝̍̚n̸̨̙̉'̵͕͖͑́t̴̫̂ ̸͈͛̔k̴̢̛͆ṋ̵̀o̷̕͜ŵ̸̜ where we are now but
no subject
We are safe! Claude was trying to reach me as well, but he was being cut off! What happened? We have been looking for you both!
Please, if you can tell me more, we want to help you—
no subject
— a gift for 2/14, backdated because i'm the worst
There's been many holidays he's learned about since arriving, what with there being so many people from so many different worlds, and at first he'd scoffed a little at this particular one. A knee jerk cynical reaction; what made one day more important than others when it comes to giving gifts? There's the fruit he's been leaving Petra here and there since their meeting in the Horizon where they'd exchanged different ones from places they call (or called, in his case) home. Surely that tallies up to be something greater when they're added together rather than being thought of as anything else.
But. Even Claude knows this is a flimsy excuse, really. So his searches in the markets grow to include more than just fruit alone as the date draws ever closer with the belief that he'll know what to purchase when he sees it, patient as ever to solve a puzzle entirely of his own creation. In the end, he's not wrong. There's a stall dedicated to weapons he likes to browse, having picked up his initial dagger not long after arriving in Cadens there, and the owner likes to set aside things she thinks Claude might appreciate. On the day that his gaze falls upon a dagger with a handle of carved green stone that has just the right heft when he picks it up, it leaves the market with him tucked away in his satchel.
On the day of, it's arranged in a painted wooden box along with its engraved leather sheath, a vial of weapon oil, and a whetstone to keep it sharpened and so its new owner won't have to sacrifice any of her own supplies for this gift. On top of it and what's first visible when the box is opened is a letter written in neat script: The box will be left on her bed when he stops by their apartment to retrieve a ledger he left behind from bringing home to balance it before leaving for his afternoon work before leaving again. Only the gift will be waiting for Petra to discover it. Much as he enjoys waiting to see someone's reaction to his plans, waiting on this particular one feels a bit too much for him.
Of course, when he returns home for the night later and finds a gift matching what he'd given in more ways than one, a confirmation there was nothing to worry about after all - he'll be nothing short of thrilled. ]